The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-18
"And how many town lots are there

e'oN s"Shsy ave, III u uu0s I'LL
gible central location like this"
AN what'd the lots be WORTH"
"Oh, with iudicious advertising
and my facilities for management
they'd go like hot cakes at $3.50"
The Deacon figured for q few mo-
ments, and then he said to Mr.. Tos-
ser:
"That's $3.50 an acre. like your
cheek to offer me $500"
But, my dear sir"
I'm nobody's fool. Good evenin',
sir"
Maggie, observed the deacon,
I'm goin in t. oakland in the
mornin to see about this boom. l
believe our everlastin' fortune is
made"
And he did 20 to Oakland.
Early in the afternoon new bon
nets for Mrs. Hammersmith and the
girls arrived. An hour aiterward q
piano was delivered. Then came a
cask OF claret aud hal iozs1 5,s-
kets of champagne. Three nav
horses we're led into the yard by an
Oakland dealer. A lovely buggy and
q phaeton followed.
The mans gone crazy" sobbed
Mrs. Hammersmith.
II was very late when the deacon
returned. His face was flushed and
his eyey were CLASSY.
"Extravagance2 Bosh, Maggie
we're richl We're Twin here in
the middle Of an ocean Of town lots.
Gimme one o them baskets. What
you bluberin' about1 Girls, stop
your snufflin an 20 to bed. Behave
like the ladies you are. Remember
that yer fathers Q leadin' citizen
now. / was lookin' at residence in
Oakland today. What'd you say to
a tower of EuropeT
Far advanced as was the night the
door bell changed repeatedly. 1t was
3 o'clock in the morning when the
last offer had been filed. 1t was
$1,000 an acre.
The deacon scoffed at it.
A surveyor approached Mrs. Ham
mersmith next forenoon. Mr.. Ham
mersmith, he said, had sent him
from Oakland " lay out the ranch
in town lots.
"You shan't do it," declared Mrs.
Hammersmith. This is my place
as much as Jeremiah's, an it amt
going to be cut up in patches if ]
can help it."
SO the surveyor sat down to wait
for the deacon. Friends brought
him home before dark.
Take this, Maggie" he said in q
thick voice, when he bad staggered
TO a chair, and he handed her large
folded paper with red seal.
1t was a bill Of sale Of half inter-
est in a prominent Broadway saloon.
Dear me, Sister Hammersmith, "
calculated the Rev. Mr.. Asbestos,
who made his pastoral call just in
time to catch the fainting woman in
his arms.
"Let her drap," said the deacon.
"She's fool"
| Mr.. Asbestos nearly tainted him
self.
"Fa.herw bawled the youngest
son, dashing in. there's q crowd o.
men here in the yard, an piles more
comm up the road in buggies."
"Geu'rmeu," yociferated Deacon
Hammersmith, lurching out to the
yerandah, what dye want2"
Give you sl25O" piped the near
est man, small person with rec
hair aud google eyes.
Make il thirteen hundred I
shouted another.
Fourteen hundred"
Fifteen hundred y
Fifteen fifty
sixteen hundred !"
The deacon laughed aloud, rubbe,
his hands, aud even essayed it'll
at tempt at q JIG, but he made no an
swcr TO the bids that were hurled a
him from fifty threats.
Parson Asbestos, shocked an,
agitated, came forth, grasped the pill
lar Of his church by the arm an,
spoke in tone Of low and earnest ex
postulation.
Here, there, you fellerl" screame,
. the red headed little man with cog
gle eyes, none o. that nowl We'r
all gentlemen here, an underground
work don't gol Leave loose O. tina
man an come out here an take you
chances with the restl"
That's the talk"
"A fair field aud no favorl"
"Duru a sneak anyhow"
Don't you listen TO him, Ham
) mersmith. I'll raise his offer, what
ever il isl"
"Masgiel" clamored the deacon
Z breaking away from the pastor, tel
the boys TO roll out that there bar
) O. clareil"
A mighty cheer rent the at
mosphere.
Brethren" said Parson AsbCsto
advancing TO the edge OF the We
Q randi and extending his hands ap
. pealngly. Brethren, | beseecI
a you as Christian men with homes Q
your own, to"
| A great laugh went up.
. ms u new dOdgc, erie
/ the rod-headed man, with a sri
Q from car 10 car. "I'm betting he
a one-lunger from Los Angeles
Them nickel hunting tenderiec
4 from the East is strong on piety."
The cask was broiohed, and th
+ shouting, wrangling, hustling mo
/, swarmed up TO II. Dipper in hant
I, the deacon, his once venerable cour
Il tenance degraded by a vacuous grin
Q ladled out the soul destroying huiC
Within, the stricken wife, SUI
rounded by her weeping daughter
u and distressed sons, sat sobbinl
!. Parson Asbestos gave such ghostl
Q comfort aslhe could.
y Without the uproar increased
!. Cheer upon cheer rose upon III
evening air as the Deacon passed th
p dipper. The price Of the ranc
a SCARED 10 dizzy figures, but his on
answer 10 bids was a hiccough and
l. grin,
A TT D.. ...a.. .t..k.l Al. IL, nal